Blog

Ep. 055 Steelers Decline Browns Offer of an Easy Win

Steelers 21 Browns 21

The Cleveland Browns were trying to be the perfect hosts…

They put out their finest linens, polished the silverware and sat the Steelers down to a banquet where they could feast to their heart’s content. The Steeler, gracious guests that they are would have none of it.

On a rain-soaked afternoon, in the only stadium outside of Pgh where Ben Roethsliberger is the #1 winning QB, the Steelers graciously handed the Browns their first non-loss in 624 days achieving a 21-21 tie.

I would like to say the Browns took advantage of 6 Steeler turnovers, but they did not. They took advantage of just one turnover, but managed to overcome a 14 point deficit in the 4th quarter.

The Browns decided to keep its new #1 draft pick under wraps, choosing to go without a QB the entire game. With wanton disregard for the absolute futility that was the Brown’s offensive, the Steelers blew a 14 point, 4th quarter lead.

James Conner emerged as a legitimate #1 running back, but gave up a critical fumble in the 4th quarter that led to a Browns TD.

Although Tyrod Taylor was throwing passes with his eyes closed and the Browns kept shooting themselves in the foot with penalties at critical times, the Steelers let them stay in the game.

Taking their foot off the pedal early in the 4th quarter with a 14-point lead, the air seemed to go out of the Pittsburgh balloon and we just accepted that we would get to fourth down and have to punt.

There’s PLENTY to talk about and we do so in this wide-ranging episode. Although it wasn’t what we had hoped for, we saw new stars emerging in Conner, Watt and Switzer. Let’s hope we don’t beat ourselves in the game next week against the Chiefs.